The Northern Young Professionals Network is celebrating ten years this year, and they’re throwing a party to celebrate.
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Over the last decade the organisation has provided networking and development opportunities for young people.
Co-founder Susie Bower said that she started the organisation because she personally felt the need for a professional network when she was developing her own career.
“You might not have anyone else you can talk to about certain things or feel comfortable talking to [in your workplace],” she said.
“So being able to have the young professionals network there and have those confidential chats, to say ‘I was in this situation at work, how would you have handled that?’ That’s one of the core strengths.
“The professional development opportunities that they’ve provided have also been really strong, and always in a fun environment.”
Current chair Sarah Cannell said that one of the benefits was being able to meet like-minded people. In fact, NYPN can even count a marriage as one of their achievements, after the couple met through their events.
For Ms Cannell, the organisation was a place to seek advice from other young people, and especially other young women.
Probably 95 per cent of the time when I was in a boardroom I was the only one under thirty.
- NYPN chair Sarah Cannell
“Starting in my first year out of uni, probably 95 per cent of the time when I was in a boardroom I was the only one under thirty, and probably 70 per cent of the time I was the only woman,” she said.
“So I think that really speaks to the importance of keeping a young group together that is able to connect to the same issues and problems.”
She said that NYPN had given her a space to learn vital skills.
“Really refining those soft skills is something you aren’t learning at uni,” she said. “Even working on your resume and basic things like that, interviewing skills.”
The NYPN anniversary party will be held this Friday, August 17, from 5.30pm until 7pm at Peppers Silo Hotel.
Attendees can meet 2018 Tasmanian Leaders Program participants from across the state, hear from a group of 2008 Tasmanian Leaders Program graduates who established NYPN as part of their program experience, and listen to a short address by Marcos Ambrose, of the racing car and tourism world.
For Ms Bower, the night will be a time to reflect on what her organisation has achieved over the past decade.
“I find it very humbling that ten years later, it’s still going,” she said. “People got involved, got engaged, and drove it themselves.”
NYPN currently has about 80 members.
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